SLC restrictions on touring party puts BCB in dilemma

Bangladesh men’s national cricket team and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) High Performance (HP) team’s upcoming Sri Lanka tour is in a complicated situation as Sri Lanka Board (SLC) have sent some health guidelines to BCB that put the latter in some dilemma. 

Earlier, it was known that a seven-day quarantine period was proposed by SLC for the visiting players upon their arrivals at the island country.

But according to report from Sri Lankan daily Sunday Observer, SLC has sent a revised health guideline to BCB where they have informed about the obligation of a 14-day quarantine period and also informed to limit the total number of players and officials traveling to Sri Lanka for the series. 

Sri Lanka tour shrouded in uncertainty https://t.co/j9mx3GBUmX

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 12, 2020

“We have got the guidelines from the Health Ministry that has been sent to the BCB today (Sunday). They have to study it thoroughly and give us their feedback as to how they will prepare themselves to embark on this tour,” said Ashley de Silva, the Chief Operating Officer of SLC, to Sunday Observer.

 The report also stated that, “One of the mandatory health requirements is a 14-day quarantine period while the players will also have to undergo PCR tests and remain in their hotel to ensure the tour party is not affected by the virus. Earlier the BCB had made a request for a 65-member contingent to arrive in the island which SLC rejected and granted permission for only its National team and officials comprising 30 members’.

‘We want to make sure that we eliminate the virus threat and support the government in a national cause. We will wait until we receive a feedback from BCB and then pursue the rest of the arrangements,” quoted De Silva by saying in the report. 

Bangladesh are scheduled to play three-match Test series against Sri Lanka in October under World Test championship.  Tigers are likely to leave here on September 28 for the tour.

Bangladesh HP team are also scheduled to travel to Sri Lanka with the national team where they are supposed to practice together before the warm-up matches and even play practice matches among themselves.

@BCBtigers unfazed about Lankan pace threat https://t.co/NfaoaRJojd

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 7, 2020

Bangladesh players have been practicing in recent weeks eyeing the tour and a 24-member preliminary squad and HP squad are being selected and almost finalized. 

BCB even arranged the covid-19 tests among players and officials for the upcoming Sri Lanka series.